BP Capital Markets America Inc., Company AND BP p.l.c., Guarantor TO The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Trustee Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture Dated as of February 13, 2023 Supplement to Indenture Dated as of June 4, 2003
Xxxxxxx 0
XX Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Inc.,
Company
AND
BP p.l.c.,
Guarantor
TO
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
Trustee
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of February 13, 2023
Supplement to Indenture Dated as of June 4, 2003
4.812% Guaranteed Notes due 2033
FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of February 13, 2023, among BP Capital Markets America Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, and BP p.l.c., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of England (herein called the “Guarantor”), having its registered office at 1 St. James’s Square, London SW1Y 4PD, England, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association having its Corporate Trust Office at 0 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”) under the Base Indenture (as hereinafter defined).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantor have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of one or more series of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein and in the Base Indenture called the “Securities”), the forms and terms of which are to be determined as set forth in Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of Securities in the aggregate principal amount of U.S.$2,250,000,000, which shall be designated the 4.812% Guaranteed Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Notes under the Base Indenture and this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
RECITALS OF THE GUARANTOR
WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to make the Guarantees provided for herein and in the Base Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIFTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
CREATION OF THE NOTES
Section 1.1. Designation of Series. Pursuant to the terms hereof and Sections 201 and 301 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby creates a series of Securities designated the “4.812% Guaranteed Notes due 2033”, which Notes shall be deemed “Securities” for all purposes under the Base Indenture.
Section 1.2. Form of Notes. The form of the Notes shall be substantially as set forth in Exhibit A, as attached hereto, which is incorporated herein and made part hereof. The Notes shall bear interest, be payable and have such other terms as are stated in the form of Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A and in the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture. The Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be February 13, 2033.
Section 1.3. Limit on Amount of Series. The Notes shall not exceed U.S.$2,250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount Outstanding under the Base Indenture at any time, except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 301 of the Base Indenture. The Notes may, upon the execution and delivery of this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture or from time to time thereafter, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes upon the delivery of a Company Order and such other documents as shall be required by the Base Indenture.
Section 1.4. Redemption. The Notes shall not be redeemable except as provided in Section 1108 of the Base Indenture; provided, however, that the Notes shall also be redeemable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the applicable Optional Redemption Price specified in Exhibit A hereto, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date. This section will apply to changes in tax treatments occurring after February 9, 2023. Additionally, references in those provisions to the United Kingdom shall be deemed also to refer to any other jurisdiction or relevant authority thereof in respect of which any successor guarantor is required to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1010 of the Base Indenture (except that as regards any such jurisdiction, the provisions for optional tax redemption described in Section 1108 of the Base Indenture will apply to changes in tax treatments in that jurisdiction occurring after the date of the succession). Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 1104 of the Base Indenture, which shall not apply to the Notes, notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed. Notwithstanding the first sentence
of Section 1106 of the Base Indenture, which shall not apply to the Notes, once notice of redemption is sent, the Notes called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the Optional Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, subject to any conditions precedent specified in such notice. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Optional Redemption Price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the applicable Optional Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and neither the Trustee nor the paying agent shall have any responsibility for such calculation.
Section 1.5. No Sinking Fund. No sinking fund will be provided with respect to the Notes.
Section 1.6. Notes Not Convertible or Exchangeable. The Notes will not be convertible or exchangeable for other securities or property.
Section 1.7. Issuance of Notes; Selection of Depositary. The Notes shall be issued as Global Securities in registered form, without coupons. The initial Depositary for the Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company.
ARTICLE TWO
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 2.1. Execution as Supplemental Indenture. This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture and, as provided in the Base Indenture, this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof. Except as herein expressly otherwise defined, the use of the terms and expressions herein is in accordance with the definitions, uses and constructions contained in the Base Indenture.
Section 2.2. Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantor, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture.
Section 2.3. Provisions Binding on Company’s and Guarantor’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind the Company’s successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Guarantor contained in this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind the Guarantor’s successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.
Section 2.4. New York Contract. This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, each Note and the Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, except that the authorization and execution of this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, each Note and the Guarantees shall be governed by the laws of the respective jurisdictions of organization of the Company and the Guarantor.
Section 2.5. Execution and Counterparts. This Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed with counterpart signature pages or in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Notwithstanding Section 303 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee may authenticate the Notes by manual or electronic signature.
Section 2.6. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Trustee hereto have caused this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, and the Guarantor has caused this Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture to be signed on its behalf by its duly appointed attorney, all as of the day and year first above written.
| BP CAPITAL MARKETS AMERICA INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Thu Dang | |
| Name: | Thu Dang | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| BP p.l.c. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Authorised Signatory | |
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE | ||
| By: | /s/ J’olika Botethi | |
| Name: | J’olika Botethi | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
[Signature Page to the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF THE NOTES
Face of Security
This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Global Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in such limited circumstances.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
BP CAPITAL MARKETS AMERICA INC.
4.812% GUARANTEED NOTE DUE 2033
No.
$
CUSIP NO. 10373Q BU3
BP CAPITAL MARKETS AMERICA INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____ Dollars ($_____) on February 13, 2033 and to pay interest thereon from February 13, 2023 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on February 13 and August 13 in each year, commencing August 13, 2023, at the rate of 4.812% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the 15th calendar day preceding each Interest Payment Date, whether or not such day is a Business Day. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or
3
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
If any payment is due in respect of the Securities on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below), it will be made on the next following Business Day; provided that no interest will accrue on the payment so deferred. A “Business Day” means any week day on which banking or trust institutions in neither New York nor London are authorized generally or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated: February 13, 0000
| XX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX INC. | ||
| By | ||
| Thu Dang | ||
| Vice President | ||
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee | ||
| By | ||
| Authorized Signatory | ||
Signature Page to Global Note
Reverse of Security
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, as Issuer, BP p.l.c., as Guarantor (herein called the “Guarantor”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture) (such Base Indenture as supplemented by the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 13, 2023 (the “Indenture”)) to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited to $2,250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount.
This Security is not redeemable prior to February 13, 2033 (the “Stated Maturity”), except that this Security may be redeemed in accordance with the terms specified below and pursuant to Section 1108 of the Indenture (as amended pursuant to the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture); the date specified for the Securities of this series, for purposes of said Section 1108, is February 9, 2023.
Prior to November 13, 2032 (three months prior to their maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Securities of this series at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
6
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
7
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. Once notice of redemption is sent, the Securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the Optional Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, subject to any conditions precedent specified in such notice.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Securities to be redeemed. If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by such method as the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate. For so long as the Securities are held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Optional Redemption Price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption. Neither the Trustee nor the paying agent shall be responsible for calculating the redemption price.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company or the Guarantor, or both, with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
8
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
9
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to Section 307 of the Indenture), whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Indenture provides that the Company and the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s option, (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company or the Guarantor deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or Government Obligations which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such Securities and Guarantees, and certain other conditions are satisfied.
Except in the limited circumstances described in Section 305 of the Indenture, the Securities of this series shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities and The Depository Trust Company shall be the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities. All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that the authorization and execution of this Security shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Company.
10
GUARANTEE OF BP p.l.c.
For value received, BP p.l.c., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), hereby unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee referred to in such Indenture due and prompt payment of the principal of and interest on such Security when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein. In case of the failure of BP Capital Markets America Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under such Indenture) punctually to make any such principal or interest payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made promptly when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.
The Guarantor hereby further agrees, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, that if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated, shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of such Security such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (1) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (2) for or on account of:
(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of such Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
11
(b) any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(c) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, or any interest on, such Security;
(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of such Security (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirements, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which such Xxxxxx would have been able to avoid by presenting such Security to another Paying Agent;
(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is imposed on a payment pursuant to the European Union Directive approved on June 3, 2003, regarding taxation of, and information exchange member states of the European Union with respect to, interest income or any law implementing such directive; or
(g) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above; nor shall additional amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or any interest on, such Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the Holder of such Security.
The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security
12
or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the Holder of such Security or such Trustee, or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security or the interest rate thereon or impose or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of and interest on such Security. This is a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of such Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of and interest on all Securities of the same series issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in full.
No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency prescribed therein.
This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication of such Security shall have been manually or electronically executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.
This Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that the authorization and execution of the Guarantee shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Guarantor.
All terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in such Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be signed manually or in facsimile by a person duly authorized in that behalf.
| BP P.L.C. |
| XXXXXXX XXXXXX |
| AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY |
| Attest: |
|
|
| February 13, 2023 |
Signature Page of the Guarantee
